Jayden Thorpe scored the lone goal in double overtime as Mount Royal University defeated the University of Regina women's hockey team in Game 1 of a Canada West quarterfinal best-of-three series Friday afternoon at Flames Community Arenas. 
 
Throughout the first period Mount Royal was on the offensive getting eight shots on net, their highest period total of the game. With 8:39 left in the first period Jane Kish made a big save and the playoff tensions soared as Mount Royal and Regina had a brief scuffle in front of the net.
 
Regina's offence began to find its groove in the second period as they went from having two shots in the first to eight in the second. Late in the second period Regina's offence was relentless on Mount Royal attacking from every angle but could not find twine. With .4 seconds left in the period Jaycee Magwood used her strength to draw a holding penalty on Mount Royal. 
 
The third period began with what would turn out to be Regina's final power play of the day as Mount Royal killed it off, defending against a voracious offensive attack. Mount Royal had two power plays in the third however Regina was still able to outshoot them 10 to 5 in the period. With 3:30 left in the game Heather Fiske had an opportunity on a breakaway but was unable to get a clean shot off with a Mount Royal defender draped all over her. Neither team could beat the goaltenders in regulation so the game headed to a five-on-five ten-minute overtime period. 
 
Twenty seconds into overtime chaos ensued in the Cougars zone as Kish made a huge glove save. The puck fell into the crease and a Mount Royal player proceeded to fall on Kish. Players on both teams scrambled trying to locate the puck which bounced out to Daria O'Neill. O'Neill took a quick shot on net but Kaitlyn Crowe was able to stop the puck with her skate, this gave Kish enough time to recover and leap on the puck. Both teams traded chances in the period but once again could not find the back of the net and a second overtime period was needed. 
 
Twenty four seconds into the second overtime Mount Royal ended the game. Daria O'Neill took a shot from the point which Thorpe tipped passed the goaltender for the victory. 
 
Fifth-year players Magwood and Tamara McVannel both registered five shots on net to lead Regina in shots while Amy Tatum led Mount Royal with four. 
 
Both goaltenders played outstanding for their respective teams Kaitlyn Ross and Kish both recorded 22 saves in the game. 
 
Regina's head coach Sarah Hodges said she believes they put forth a strong effort, but just needed to find a good pace for themselves. 
 
"I think we just had a slow start. We have to come out from the start and be ready to go. At times we had some good offence, but through the game were just inconsistent, so we need to work at being better at that."
 
Mount Royal's coach Scott Rivett was proud of his team, recognizing that their results were also inconsistent, but in the end they made it work. 
 
"To be honest it was just kind of about dialing in and just trying to find some more energy to manage the puck…At the end of the day Kaitlyn Ross made some saves and we really needed her to. Second and third period, she made some key saves and got us into overtime and kind of got our game back again."
 
Game 2 will take place on Saturday at 2:30 PM (MT) at Flames Community Arenas.